Police are investigating after Sheffield Wednesday fans mock the death of the young mascot

Police are investigating after Sheffield Wednesday fans appeared to mock the death of football mascot Bradley Lowery during a match against his favorite team.

The little boy captured the nation’s heart during his battle with neuroblastoma, but finally succumbed to the disease at just six years old in 2017.

He was a mascot for his beloved Sunderland and in the months before his death he led England to Wembley alongside his hero, former Black Cats striker Jermain Defoe.

Footage shared on X, formerly Twitter, appears to show two men laughing at the Sheffield Wednesday v Sunderland match at Hillsborough on Friday, with one of them holding up a photo of Bradley to the camera.

A Sheffield Wednesday spokesman described their actions as “outrageous and deplorable” on X, while South Yorkshire Police said they were working with the club to identify the men.

In a Facebook post, the Bradley Lowery Foundation, a charity set up by the boy’s mother, Gemma, said: “So sad to see – whatever happened to ‘cancer has no colours’, much less respect for a family who lost a child to cancer?”

A spokesman for the force said: “We are working to investigate public order offenses following yesterday’s Sheffield Wednesday v Sunderland match. We will work with the club to identify those responsible.

“Anyone with information is asked to get in touch online or by calling 101.”

Sheffield Wednesday said in a statement: “We are aware of the images circulating and have immediately launched an investigation in conjunction with South Yorkshire Police.

“We strongly condemn this outrageous and totally deplorable behavior. We can only apologize for the undoubted distress caused to Bradley’s family and friends.”